Tuesday Mashup (9/20/11)

For what it’s worth, I am extremely aware of this development. And I feel utterly numb. I honestly don’t know what there is left to do at this point except pray.

I firmly believe, still, that the life of Troy Davis deserves to be spared so he can defend himself. In that event, if he were still to be found guilty, he would be left to rot on death row until his last days. But it doesn’t look like that will happen.

The test I use for cases like this is how we would react if an American citizen were held in, say, North Korea or Iran and faced a judgment like this under similar circumstances. My guess is that we would be howling at the top of our lungs. And many of us have done so here, but it looks like the Georgia Parole Board will be utterly unmoved.

So yes, I will pray for Troy Davis and his family and friends.

And for ourselves.

Update: Actually, there is something we still can do (here).

Also, under the heading of “Law and Order,” a topic I try to steer clear of actually, I wonder how Scott Turow, brilliant writer that he is, feels about this story since he was one of the ones arguing that Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who if nothing else is some kind of sexual monster of one form or another, should be freed because of the past history of his accuser?

In addition, this tells us that Thomas Capano died yesterday in a Delaware jail, his death sentence in the murder of Anne Marie Fahey (secretary of former Delaware governor and current U.S. Senator Tom Carper) having been commuted. The cause of death was a heart attack, which is ironic if nothing else since Capano, who, during the course of the Fahey murder trial that utterly galvanized this area way back when, emerged as a truly unsympathetic and utterly calculating individual.

For what it’s worth, at least two good books have been written on the Capano trial and the murder of Anne Marie Fahey. One is “The Summer Wind” by Philadelphia Inquirer reporter George Anastasia (which I read) and “And Never Let Her Go” by Ann Rule (read by Mrs. Doomsy).

What emerged in each version of events is that Capano was one of those people who utterly ruined the lives of anyone who came in contact with him. The world is better off with him no longer inhabiting this planet (and as always, our prayers and condolences go out to the family and friends of Anne Marie Fahey).

Given everything I just noted, it’s probably inappropriate to note anything about people maybe “offing” themselves, but this little item with Billo The Clown is too delicious to pass up (would that it were that easy…only kidding).

Next, this story tells us the following (diving into pop culture nonsense, I guess)…

First it was the far right, which signaled out "Spongebob" for promoting a gay and global-warming agenda.

And (on 9/12), the American Academy of Pediatrics (took) aim at the 12-year-old Nickelodeon kids series, reporting a study that concludes the fast-pace show, and others like it, aren't good for children.

Using what it calls a "controlled experimental design," the AAP said its study found that preschool-aged children " were significantly impaired in executive function immediately after watching just nine minutes of a popular fast-paced television show relative to after watching educational television or drawing."

That show, of course, is "Spongebob Squarepants."

(I confess that I was motivated to post about this based on this good column by Reg Henry that appeared in the Bucks County Courier Times today.)

The main reason why I’m saying anything at all here (and I’m sure I’m repeating myself) is because, of all the kids shows out there, SpongeBob is the one about which I have no concerns at all (my favorite espisodes are the health inspector visiting the Krusty Krab and the “Bubble Bowl”).

However, if you want to talk about kid shows that raise a red flag for yours truly, there is the ever-obnoxious “Code Name: Kids Next Door,” which is nothing but a half hour of yelling and explosions, and “Fairly Oddparents” (whimsically funny at times, even if every character on the show appears to be taking methamphetamines). Also, I’m pleased to report that the utterly nonsensical (and indecipherable) idiocy of “Ed, Edd and Eddy” appears to be missing from Cartoon Network’s prime time lineup. Try focusing on those shows instead, American Academy of Pediatrics, would you please?

(Of course, the young one has long since left such viewing behind, now focusing on MTV and teen slasher movies instead, along with more traditional fare such as “West Side Story”…I’ll know if I have a problem if he tells me to “be cool, daddyo” or tries to look for a rumble).

Finally (and speaking of cartoons), I give you the following from J.D. Mullane today in the Courier Times…

Unemployment, debt and political debacle. Those who gathered near the spot where Washington crossed the Delaware know the country is in crisis. But ask why and they don’t so much discuss President Obama, or Republicans in name only (RINOS), or middle-class food stamps. The problem is that Americans are largely unfamiliar with the U.S. Constitution and of the meaning of the Declaration of Independence.

Oh, and I nearly forgot this…

Obama, party politics and progressivism are symptoms of the ignorance.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

Continuing…

“When you don’t know what’s in these founding documents, how can you hold public officials accountable for what they do? That’s why we’re here,” said Jeff McGeary, lifting his voice over fife and drum music coming from public address speakers.

McGeary, of Newtown, is the founder and president of the Thomas Jefferson Club. Since 2008, the club has aimed to educate Bucks Countians on the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. (Also the eye-glazing intricacies of municipal government. Understanding the arcane leads to accountability and “preserves freedom,” he said.)

Gee, J.D., what a shame that you didn’t bother to tell us the following about your new hero (and of course, Mullane’s response is always “yeah, well, it’s my column and I can write what I want…nyaaah, nyaaahh”)…

In recent months, those who call themselves Tea Party activists have been trying to suggest that they only march and rally because of economic and fiscal concerns, never social and cultural issues. Someone forgot to tell teabagger Jeff McGeary that, given his remarks during the April 6, 2011 meeting of his Thomas Jefferson Club in Bucks County, PA:

"Stand up for your rights, your beliefs, your culture, your heritage, and your identity. What binds us together in this room and this republic guys, is worth fighting for, more than any taxes, more than any other issue, is this issue of our culture and our values and our Western way of life. And the last thing that I heard from both speakers was the word 'love'. To love your people, to love your heritage, love our national family, our culture, our value, our republic. And guys, stand up for it. It's worth fighting for. Your work, your employment, about your daily task, stand up, stand up proudly and don't apologize guys."

And if those same teabaggers are miffed that people keep pointing out the racist elements in the Tea Party scene, well Jeff McGeary isn't helping. See, the two speakers that he was referring to were noted white nationalists Peter Brimelow of the hate site VDARE, and former Jesse Helms aide Louis March, a past speaker at American Renaissance and Council of Conservative Citizens conferences who touted as successes overseas what hate groups like the British National Party and France's National Front were doing in their countries. McGeary is one of those teabaggers that have been playing it coy for a few years now, but when this meeting took place it pretty much put a spotlight on what he and his Thomas Jefferson Club is really about.

But just remember, boys and girls, it’s “progressives” who are the hateful, nasty bigots, not those zany Teahadists.

Continuing with Mullane (you could almost choke on the stoo-pid here today, but I’ll only focus on this other item)…

The example cited frequently to illustrate how the country has separated from its constitutional moorings is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, called “ObamaCare.” Among the criticisms is that it will create more than 150 new boards, commissions and agencies that will require thousands of government employees to provide and police the system. It also creates about 20 new or higher taxes.

In response, this tells us the following…

…the Independent Payment Advisory Board set up by the law is specifically prohibited by law from recommending any policies that ration care, raise taxes, increase premiums or cost-sharing, restrict benefits or modify who is eligible for Medicare." [WhiteHouse.gov, 4/20/11]

What a shame there isn’t a tax on pundit stupidity, though. If there were, Mullane would spend the rest of his life in the poor house.